"King Lear" is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare that tells the story of an aging king who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, according to which of them is the most eloquent in professing their love for him. However, the two eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, are deceitful and only flatter the king to get their share of the kingdom. The youngest daughter, Cordelia, speaks truthfully and sincerely, but because she does not flatter her father like her sisters, she is disinherited.
The play follows the consequences of the king's poor judgment and selfish actions, as he is eventually driven mad and becomes a victim of betrayal and abuse at the hands of his own daughters. Along the way, other characters suffer as well, including the loyal Earl of Kent, who is banished by the king and eventually dies for trying to protect him, and the Earl of Gloucester, who is blinded and then killed by his own illegitimate son, Edmund.
Throughout the play, Shakespeare explores themes of blindness, both literal and metaphorical, as the characters' inability to see the truth leads to their downfall. The king, for example, is blind to the fact that his daughters do not truly love him, and he is unable to see the goodness in Cordelia. Similarly, Gloucester is blind to the fact that Edmund is manipulating him, and he pays a terrible price for his lack of insight.
The tragedy of "King Lear" ultimately lies in the fact that the characters' flaws and mistakes lead to their own destruction, as well as the destruction of those around them. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride, greed, and the inability to see the truth, and it remains a poignant and relevant work to this day.
